Player for musical instruments.



P. WELIN.

PLAYER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED n.7, 1901. RENEWED FEB. 16, m5.

1, 1 34,249. Patented Apr. 6. 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET l. Q

W dwesses THE NORRIS PETERS 50., PHOTGLITHOH WASHINGTON. u.

P. WELIN. PLAYER FOR.MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. I APPLICATION FILED m4. 1. 1907. nzuzwzu m. I6, 915. 1,134,249.

Patented Apr. 6, 19-15.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2. a [Z Ink/11 10" WI/(ZESSG s lrlk. NORRIS PETERS CO., FHOTO-LITHOA. WASHINGTUN. L), L,

P. WELIN.

PLAYER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED JAN- 1. I901. RENEWED FEB. 16. m5.

1, 1 34,249, Patented Apr. 6,1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS c0. PHOTO-LITHOQ WASHINGTON. D c

P. WELIN. PLAYER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 1, I907 RENEWED FEB. 16. I9I5.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915 7 SHIJBTSSHEET 4- 30 J2 if ,j 5L messes:

0- co. PHDIOVLIIHQI wAsHlNGmN. D. c,

P. WELIN.

PLAYER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. v APPLICATION FILED JAN-7,1907. RENE WED FEB. 16,1915. 1,1 34,249. Patented Apr. 6,1915.

7 SHEBTS-SHEIZT' 5.

THE NORRIS PETERS ca. PHOTOLITHQ. WASHING TON. D. Cv

P. WELIN. PLAYER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED m4. 7. I901. RENEWED FEB. 16, I9l5- 1,1 34,249. Patented Apr. '6, 1915..

I 7 SHEETS-BEER? 6. Z3 7/ 171 [/6 /1 1'01 WIICSS es l e/Bl WEI ll m 0 WW IHE NORRIS PETERS C04, PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON D. C.

P. WELIN. I PLAYER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPucmon FILED mm. 1901. nzuswzn res. l6. 19:5.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

947 171/0476 ZZ/a THE NORRIS PETERS CO PHOTO-Linda. WASHING mm D. c.

T "JLAWRENGEMVAXWELL, OF'GINCINNATLIOI-II'Q:

Toal lc whom it may concern:

I Be it known that 1, PETER warms .citi

I Zen of the United States, residing at Newcastle, in the county of'Henry andState-of Indiana, have invented a new and useful J Player for Musical Instruments, of which thefollowing is a specification.

, 1 "This inventionrelates'to playing devices,

which are preferably pneumatically controlled, for operating pianos and; other mu- I sical instruments.

The principal objects the invention are to provide separate play'ing devices of this I character with improved modulating. means which can be controlled manually if desired,

f ji'n-a most "simple and convenient -manner,

,7 modulating action and "for accomplishing notes individually or by'sections," as for instance, byoctaves and when a plurality'of notes are m'odulated simultaneously; toprovide for setting a number of accenting means so that-anyone or more of such notes may be actuated as without interfering wlth the this result in a simple, convenient andetfi- .cient manner; also to provide an improved throttlingmechanismfor instruments of this character, to provide means for adjusting" the tension ofthethrottling valve spring;

and generallyto improve and "simplify pneumatic actions for pianoplayers and the like.

Reference is to be hadto the accompanying drawings which 'illustrate a practical mode in whichthe above mentioned PIlIlCl-' ri'ed out, and'inwhichffl 1 Figure 1 is a iront elevation of a'portion ota piano player with parts" broken away" and showing the, tracker bar, modulating val'vei box, and channel board. Fig... 2 is a plan of the modulating valve "box, switch Fig 3, a sectional viewof the modulating valve box on the-line 33 of Figs. 1 and -15 showing the slide valve for controlling thesame iin plan; Fig.

box and, connections.

4* is azifragmentary viewof the-same on an enlarged scale with parts broken away to show interior- .constru'ction. Fig. 5 is abetaom plan of the top plate of -th'e-slide valve.

Fig. 6' is a planviewof a'platebf the modu} .1 lating valve box. under the valve showing the channels thereofi "Fig.7 isa plan of a plate [which constitutes the-top of1the channeled section onthe'line' 17-17 of Fig. 1 6. Fig.- prefer'ablybythe useof a: slide valve and in.

' connection with an indicator; to provide for operating such means to modulate or soften 'p'ltsvalve box, and F-igs..l9 and 20g'a re plans of two: of the elements thereof, the parts above the lines '19 and 20, respectively,"in

" with a modulating valve' box in which is'a suctionchamber 46 connected with a source ,tave. These'pneumatics are supplied as derLAY nn Eon iisIoAn INSTItUMENTS. o I

a side elevation ofthe next plate thereof. F1g. 9 is plan of another of the" plates.

.Fig. 10 is a plan ofanother of such plates showing a part "of the switch box mounted thereon; Fig. ,11 is a plan of a part of the I switch box. 7 Figs. 12 and 13 'are plans of two of the plates which constitute parts ofthe same on theline 15 15 of Fig. 14. Fig. 16

'is a plan ofthe switch box on an enlarged" scale with the .top' removed; Fig; 17 is *a' 17iis a sectional view 'on the line 17 '1 7 of Fig. '3. Fig; '18 is alongitudinalisectional view of one of thestrikingpneumaticswith ENEwcAs'rLn iNnIAnA, lemm s: MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To

p re Patented.Apr.6,;1915.j f Application fl1edianuary- 7,'1907, Serial No. asrosvi'nene ea Februaryli, 1915. serial in. 8 ,615."

part of the'modulating. valve box. Fig.8

Fi'g.,1-8,' 'beinglremoved,,and Fig. '21 is a i In the form oftheinvention illustrated'in the drawings, reference being had morees 7' pecially to Fig. 21, the device is provided of airtension- In this chamber afre located 1 p a series of modulating" pneumatics45, one

for each-note or series of notes as desired;

inthepresent instance, one of these pneu matics serves for the notesof :an entire ocsired iwith atmospheric air through channels individually controlled" by a valve 23 which" 'is-manually operable to admit "air to. anyone ofthe desired pneumatics. When corresponding" striking pneumatic '61. In the construction specified, the passages to operate an entire octave are thus throttled tionchamber 60 ofthe valve'box'to throttle simultaneously. The operationof thestrik- I,

ing'pneumatic ispreferably controlled by the music sheet'in the ordinary' way,,..through a channel warm the tracker; It is to be obd air is admitted,itraisesthe pneumatic and operates a valve 47, 48,.th'e raising .of'which [admits atniospheriefair to {a series of pas- I jsages5l each of which communicates with a "channel" 53 leading to a pneumatic 57, for,

served that the throttle valves of all the notes of an octave are simultaneously set so that when their striking pneumatics are connected with the suction chamber by the action of the usual mechanism, the air passage will be throttled to soften or modulate the tone. If, while this state of affairs continues, it isdesired to accent the notes While those of that octave are sounded, a lever 65 is provided which is manipulated to 'oper-, ate'a switch valve 7 5 in each of the passages 53 leading to a throttlevalve pneumatic 57 and open it to establish communication between a suction chamber 76 and all of the throttling valve pneumatics, thus preventing the softening action while this lever is operated, although'the position of the modulating valves47, 48 and their pneumatics is not interfered with in any way. H A

It; will be seen that so far as this diagrammatic figure goes, it is similar in some respects to the corresponding figure shown in my co-pending application for patent on Pneumatic action for musical instruments, Serial No.;351,085, filed January 7, 1907, the chief difference in principle in the .upper half of thefigure, being the location of pneumatic 79 for a purpose which will be hereinafter described, while in the lower half, the switch valves, switch box, modulating valve, and slide valve perform similar functions but are differently located, arranged and combined chiefly to'simplify and adapt the invention for a piano player, although the s'ame arrangement may be applied to combination pianos; I

' Referring specifically first to Figs; 1 and 2, it will be seen that a construction is illustrated in which the tracker-box 20 is mounted on a ledge or plate 21 and adjacent thereto is mounted a modulating valve box 22. The operation ofthe modulating valve box is controlled by a sliding valve 23 shown in Fig. 8. This valve is operated through a lever 24: connected by a link 25, with a lever 26 mounted to swing on a rock shaft or the like. The lever 24 is provided with a pointer 27 which moves over a scale 28 preferably located on the tracker box so as to indicate the position of the sliding valve and the number of notes or octaves which are modulated. It is to be understood that the device can be constructed so that any.

desired number ofnotes can be simultaneously softened or modulated. In the present instance it is shown as of such construction that the notes of an entire octave are softened simultaneously and the scale is accordingly divided. The sliding valve 23 is also shown in my aboveidentified application and is claimed therein in combination with other elements but is specifically claimed in this case, and may be constructed in many ways and the position of the openings in the plate of the modulating valve box which communicate with the perforation therein will, of course, modify the construction of the valve. Ifthe valve swings insteado'f havinga sliding motion, the relative positions of the parts of the valve and the perforations in the valve box will be correspondingly changed. This valve, however, is shown as'ha-ving a straight sliding designated as v30*, 30", 30, 30 30" and 30 and those of the second series are designated 30a, 30 30 30 and 30 Each of the modulating pneumatics in thevalve box is connected with one of the passages in each series. 'The passages of the first series are so located that on the travel of the valve past a certain point, they will alleither be covered or exposed simultaneously. Therefore, if the valve'has a straight sliding motion as shown and a straight end, they will be located in a straight line. They are shown in substantially this manner but as they are located in two lines, the valve 23 is shown as being provided with notches 33 for admitting air to those in the rearrow at the same time that air is admitted to those in the otherrow, the positions of the passages and shape of the end of the valve being mutually dependent upon each other and on the kind of motion imparted to the valve. When the valve is'in the, position shown in Fig. 4 all of the passages 30*, 30*, etc.- are exposed to the air. If the valve now moves to the right, the passages will first be closed by the valve and on further movement thereof in thesame direction, the

passages 30, 30, 30, 30 and 30 will be bled by being located under a series of Pen forations 34 in the bottom plate of the valve. These perforations 3a are preferably of different lengths to provide for keeping them in communication, with'the several passages. of theplate 32 different periods of time and they all communicate with a channel or passage 35 in the under side of the top plate 30. This channel also communi- V cates with another perforation- 36in the plate 32 which, throughout the travel of the valve, is located over a passage 37 in the plate 32 which communicates with the suction chamber of the modulating valve box so as to bleed the pneumatics when the valve s in the proper position. "In the position just described, all the -pneumatics except one "are placed incommunicationwith the passage 37' so as to'be'restoredto their normal 6 condition ready for'furtheroperation. ,The reason the passage 30Fis-not bled at this time isbecause a notch 38 in the, valve-'now comes into registration with the passage which is connected. withthes ame pneumatic as the passage 30". Consequently, the'pneumatic connectedwith-these two passages is opened to the air and that octave is modulated as will be explained.- In the form" shown, the passages of the Second series are mounted in two parallellines which 'are'in' the line of motion: oftwolperforations 39 and 40 in the plate31. These passages com-,

municate with the passage 35whereby 'allp the pneumatics can *bebled in an obvious:

manner. The entrance of air from the two series of passages 30*, 30 etc; will now be traced. v

I Fig. '6 shows a-plate' 41 containing 6511-, ti'nuations of the twosseri'es of passages in .the. plate 32,;these continuations being-giventhe same reference characters asiin' the other .plate. A seriesof channelsi'is'provided' either lnthe top. or bottom'of the plate'41 for connecting the passages of these two series; for example,'a channel. 3 connects the passages 30aandi 306. .Channels 3", 3,

3 3 and 3 arealso provided for conn'ect-,. ingthe other passages in asimilar manner, Some of these channels are located entirely on one side .of' the plateL-while others are, located partly on onejside and partly'on the other, the two parts belng connected by "a perforation. Eachof these channelsisialso so formed as to communicate with "one of a series of siX channels 42. I It will be seen, therefore, that through the series offc'hannels 3 etc. whichare connected with the six neumatics in the: modulating valve box,

modulatingvalve boxin armanner that wilL all of the passagesofthe two sets in the plate 32 are put into communication with their respective 1 pneumatlcs; The passage 87 is located 'directlyjover, and" terminates in,a suction channel43 in the plate. 41which communicates-with a perforation 44 (Elgfl 3.). This perforation 44: is put into communication with the suctiomchamber of the be described. This valve ibox' operates on 'ple.

principle similarktothat disclosed inmy above identified applicationbutdiffers/therefrom in many features'i of construction, whereby-itis rendered, more compact and sim- I It is also adaptedespecially fOl'QPlEtIIO players bythese "changes, although capable ofgeneral use. As it is broadly claimedin' said companion f case, the principle of i is Y not broadly; claimedherein but it is claimed with special reference to the'improvements thereover... It will "be observed, Y however,

. 6 that the valve'23'is-located below thefmain part" of the modulatingvalve boX softhat it accumulation "of dust? Referring to Figs,

seen th at the valve box is made upofa seis protected frominjury'by the overhang ing portion thereof 'andsheltered fromthe differential valve having-ftwo parts 47 and- '48 the part 47 is mounted rigidly on valve stem 49, while the part48 is slidably mounted'thereonanda spring ,50pnormally holds thesegtwo parts away. fromeach other; consequentl-y', when the valve stemis forced up i by the pneumatic, the part 47 will first move to its seat and then the springwill force the part 48 from its seat. This will cut off ulating "'channel 55 in the channel board.

"This communicates Iithrough passages 56 v 'with' a series of pneumatics 57.: 'Each of" 1 these pneumatics operates a throttle valve a channel 51" from communication with the a suction chamber and later will connect it I with the outside air. This channel communicates through a passage'52 and channel53 "with a pipe 54 ,(Fig. 1) which enters a mod- 58 to throttle a passage59 between a suction chamber-'60 and strikingpneumatic 61 as" shown as normally pressed awayfromits seatby a spring 62, the tension of which is adjusted loya block 1 63 operated by a q screw-'64. The screw is held in. adjusted positions by a nut 640 which, in turn is se-' curedby a'clamping plate 64l'held by'the bolts which securethe valve-boxes in posi-' tion.

shown'in Fig. 5 18; The throttle valve is i If, while theithrottle valve corresponding toone octave or otherset-of notes is in position forsoftening those notes'it is desired to accent the notes a's'played, the switch valves are operated.

A lever 65 is" pressed by example, the tempo lever 67. This leveris intended normally to swing on a. vertical pivot but its end can be raised so as to move the end. of the lever 65 upwardly and depress the: opposite end thereof. The result of this is to move a valve 68's'hown in Fig.

-17,- away from its seatand admit air through an opening 69 to a pneumatic 70 which a 'spring 66 against'one of the controlling levers, as for 'forms'a wall'of a chamber 70O"with.which the switch box is provided and which com: I municates" through a passage 710 witlrthe suction chamber 7 Thismoves upwardly. a valve '71 and-cuts a passage 72 offcfrom communication with suction connecting it with "the outsideair whichpasses through'a 1 I .channel 73;t0 [a series of" switch valve pneumatics 74.. This simultaneously raises switch valves 75 to close all of the passages 52 and connect the passages v53 with the suction chamber 76, although the pneumatics 74 if desired may be located in, the suction chamber 46. This operation restores the throttle valves during the time that this lever .65 is operated and permits the notes to be sounded in their ordinary manner without throttling; then when this lever is permitted tomove back to its normal position, the throttling efl ect ot the rest of the notes will continue. r

A spring 77 is employed to assist in forcing each valve 75 back to its seat. It will be understood, of course, that the primary valves 78 for controlling the operations'of the secondary valve pneumatics 79 are operated from the tracker. bar, being controlled by the perforated sheet music in the usual way. 7 .7

The pneumatics '79 control a valve 80 which controls the communication of the striking pneumatics 61 with the suction chamber and with the outside air. It will be seen from this that a construction is providedwhich can be applied to a pianoplayer or the like in a very simple andconvenient manner for eificiently performing the results above specified. I

The diiferential valve 4718 and justment of the throttle valve by thescrew, block, and spring are not specifically claimed herein as they form the subjects of claims in my co-pending applications on Automatic modulating mechanism for musicalinstruments, filed January 7, 1907, 'Serial'No 351,086 Valve for pneumatically controlled musical instruments, filed January 7, 1907,

Serial No. 351,089; and Difl'erential valve for pneumatically controlled musical instruments, filed July 18, 1907, Serial No. 384,361.

While I haveillustrated and described a particular embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many modifications'may be made therein by any person skilled in the art within the scope of the claims. Therefore, I do not Wish to be limited to the particular construction shown, but

hat I do claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is v I r 1. In a music. playing device, thecombination of striking pneumatics, a valve box, means including modulatingvalves in said valve-box for modulating the striking effect of a portion of said striking neumatics, means including switch valves for neutral- 12mg the eifect of said modulating valves,

and a switch box mounted on the valve box and having switch box. 7 l

2. In a musiclplaying device, the combination of a valve box, valves therein, pneuniatics. for saidvalves, passages controlled means for controlling said 7 on the valve boxfand having means for con the adby said valves, a switch valvein said box for additionally controlling said passages,

pneumatics for operating said switch valves,

and a switch box mounted on the valve-box and having passages connected with the switch 'valve pneumatics for controlling V them, and having means for controllingthe last named passages. V 3. In a music playing device, the combination of a valve box, a series of throttle valves, modulatingfvalves in said valve box, I

switch valves in saidrvalve box, both the modulating. valves and the switch valves having connections. for controlling said throttle valves, and a switch box mounted trollingv said switch valves independently of the operation of said modulating valves. 9

4. In a piano player, the. combination of a modulating valve box 'having. a suction chamber, throttle valves, pneumatics' for said throttle valves, channels connecting said pneumatics-with said suction chamber,

means for controlling the connection of said channels with the suction chamber and with the outside' air, a second suction chamber, a

switch valve for connecting the throttle valve pneumatics with the second suctionchamber independently of the position of said controlling means, apneumatic in said second suctioni chamber for operating the switch valve, and a switch box mounted on; said valvebox for operating said. :switch valve pneumatic, saidswitch' box having means fornormally preventing the admis- I sionof air thereto and for permitting the connection of the switch box 'with'the suction chamber at the same time, i r

r 5. :The combination of a modulating valve box having two suction chambers, a chan-j nel with which bothof said chambers can communicate, a switch valve for controlling the connection of said'channel with one'of' said chambers, a pneumatic for said switch valve inthelast named chamber,'a switch 7 rality of series of throttle valve pneumaticsi in I normally connectedtherewith, a modulating 2 lve 'for each of said 7 series to control the connection of the throttlev'alvepneumatics thereof with one of the suction chambers andwith the outside air, a pneumatic in said suctionchamber for each of said modu- 130 lating valves, a switch valvefor each of said series of throttle valve neumatics, and

pneumatics in the second suction chamber for operating all ofsaidl. switch valves to position of the modulating 7. In a music playing device, thecombination of a suction chamber, a pneumatic therein, a valve operable'by said pneumatic,

an air passage from said valve to a'valve box, the connection of said passage with the suction chamber and with atmospheric air being under the control of'said valve, a secnd suction chamber, 'a' pneumatic in the second suction chamber, "and a switch valve controlled by the last named pneumatic for connecting said passage with'thesecond sucthefcondition or valve. V

8. In a valve box,j the combination of a suction chamber, valves,.pneumatics in the suction chamber for operating said valves, H a horizontal plate located ,below the; sue-V tion chamber! andsimultaneously discon-' necting the passage from the outside air or the first suction chamber independently-of position of the'first named tion chamber, and spaced therefrom, said valve box and plate having passages lead- I ing from the top of said plate to eachof said i pneumatics, and a valve'on-the top of said plate betweenitand the'remainderof the.- valve box and accessiblefrom the outside. u

9.- A valve box fora piano player, having a suction chamber,-va'lves, a ser esof pneumatlcs for said valves, a passageflcommumeating witheach pneumatic, a plate below said'pneumatic's, said chamber overhanging the plate, said plate having aseries ofperfo rations, one connectedwith each of said passages, and a moving valve'havinganotch when the valve is moved. 7 I

10. In. a piano player," the combination of a series of pneumatics having passages connected therewith, a plate'below said pneu matics-having two series of perforations,

necting them.

each of said passages being connected with one 'perforatlon of each series, and a sliding v '11. ,The combination of I a plate 7 having the' plate and having a passage for connectwith said channels in the plate after the valve moves beyond the position for" so conl2; As an" article of manutactureya sliding valve having a conducting passage" and 'provided'with a plurality of bleeding passages-arranged parallel'with the directionof motioneofthe valve and all communicating with said conducting passage, and having valve having a notch for uncovering the-passages ofone series in succession as it moves and adapted to'imcover all those of the so other when itsendismoved beyond ,a certain point. i

channels therein, and a valve movable on" ingcertain ofsaidchannels when the valve d in one position'and other of said cham nels when in another "position, and having bleedinglpassa-ges in'position to register a notch-inone, sideopen to the air at the side, and open onthe side of the valve on f vices,-comprising a suction chamber, a con-v nection from another part of the box, a

pneumatic with whichsaidconnectioncom {I imunicates, a valve, a pneumatic in the box for operatingsaid valve, an opening in the bottomfof the box, a secondvalveadapted to closesaid openingfor controlling the ad I "testimony whereof I have mission of air to saidlast named pneumatic, r means for normally raisingthe second valve 1 to close it'andvlprevent the admission of out-,

side air, and means for'vforcingthesecond I valve from'its seat.-

hereunto set w my hand, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses, c for uncovering certain of said perforations r Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eachgby'a'ddressingtlie Commissioner o f ratents,

' Washington, 11.0.? 

